Boy, we’ve never noticed how good The Monkees had it with their syntax choices. Anyway, Monkees’ drummer Micky Dolenz turns 70 years old today and we’d like to celebrate his varied career in pop culture and nerd-dom.

1. The Monkees

Thought we’d go with “Daydream Believer?” Well we’re better than that and know it’d be a crime if we didn’t mention and outright gush about the music of The Monkees. While most people’s memories of the band are that of the television show which, while absolutely great, we like to think it was primarily a the vessel in which some truly great music lived. You know that friend you have that says he doesn’t like The Monkees? It is our opinion that your friend is incredibly wrong about this and, together, we must change their mind. Make that friend listen to the video above, and then this one, this one, and finally, this one and if they still act indifferent, know that you’ve got our full permission to go out and find a new friend. Two of those four songs were actually written by none other than Neil Diamond. So by the totally real and not-made-up-just-now “transitive properties of music,” if they don’t like The Monkees, they don’t like “Cracklin’ Rosie.”

2. Dolenz was almost the Fonz

As Dolenz has mentioned in multiple interviews and his book, I’m a Believer: My Life of Monkees, Music, and Madness, both he and fellow Monkee Michael Nesmith auditioned for the part of Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli on Happy Days. As rumor has it, neither got the part as they were both taller than star Ron Howard.

3. “Mayor Micky Dolenz”

Adam West playing a version of himself as the mayor on Family Guy is a fairly weird thing to happen on a television show and certainly has to be the only instance of something like that, right? Well if you’re anything like me and keep an encyclopedic knowledge of mid 90s California bicycle police shows starring Mario Lopez,you might remember that Micky Dolenz played “Mayor Micky Dolenz” on Pacific Blue. Effectively out-Adam-Westing Adam West four years before Family Guy.

4. Johnny Bravo

As actors are wont to do, Dolenz has provided voices for a lot of cartoons over the years and in 2004 lent his talent to three episodes of Van Partible’s Johnny Bravo.

5. He voiced Arthur on The Tick

Some might remember Arthur, the moth-suited sidekick to the musclebound azure silverware obsessed Tick. Well, Dolenz provided Arthur’s voice in the very first season of the animated show The Tick back in 1994.

6. Batman: The Animated Series

Continuing with some cartoon morsels, Micky also voiced Two-Face’s henchmen Min & Max in the second episode of a 2-parter of Batman the Animated Series. Perhaps we’re reading too far into the Fonz thing but Min & Max looked a bit like a certain red-headed actor/director. Coincidence? Of course it is, but weird, right?

7. He was also almost the Riddler in Batman Forever

Tim Burton cast Dolenz and even screen tested him for the role of Edward “The Riddler” Nygma in 1995’s Batman Forever. The part that ultimately went to Jim Carrey would have been drastically different than what we saw considering Burton’s Plans to have Nygma’s iconic question mark shaved into Dolenz head. Weirder still is the rumor that Burton’s Riddler was originally offered to Robin Williams. It’s just a damn shame that despite our best efforts, we can’t seem to find Micky’s screen test footage anywhere.

So there you have it. 7 on the 70th. Whats your favorite contribution Micky Dolenz has given the world? Is there a better Monkees’ song we didn’t include? Let us know in the comments.

Comments

Absolutely LOVE Micky D and the Monkees. One of my favorite artist and band/shows of all time, thank you so much for doing on article on the incredible man that is Mr. George Michael Dolenz 🙂 Check out his song Randy Scouse Git (aka Alternate Title) He wrote it AND sang it. I love his stage work (AIDA, Hair Spray, ect). The man is just incredible.

Another Bex who likes the Monkees?! I thought this was me for a second, but I was more of a Peter girl. Second totally on Randy Scouse Git. The video from the show of that is wonderful, if for anything, Micky’s fantastic facial mannerisms. Happy belated birthday, Micky!

Hey, Blake…Just a little FYI that Michael Nesmith never auditioned for the role of Fonzie. BUT, Henry Winkler famously went in and saw that Micky was auditioning and went “Oh, shit! Micky Dolenz is here. I’ll never get the part.” True story.

Wait, this is a nerd-centric site and you don’t mention Dolenz’s science based artwork where he painted things like the hole in the Ozone layer and a human embryo after splitting. There was a showing of it one time that I saw them on tour.
You kind of stretch out the voice acting a little bit while omitting some other cool things. Bit of a research fail.

You guys are right, Goin Down is a phenomenal song (especially considering it was the B side to Daydream believer) but i mentioned the others just because they hit my earholes in such a good way! I would have included “You Just May Be the One” because it’s one of my favorites but i had to include the 2 Diamond tracks. If re-recorded today most of their discography would be the perfect indie rock. Lets do it guys! MONKEES TRIBUTE BAND! who’s in!?

This is literally my dream job.
Some of the more Mickey-centric unreleased tracks are really great. His version of Jericho, Pillow Time, and Midnight Train (accompanied by his sister) are pretty sweet.